"This information indicates that credit unions are not doing enough to provide the assurances and detailed information members want about their online security," said Brad Loebbaka, Solavista director of operations and marketing. "Members want to see your security policies and protections front and center."

Improving navigation and site structure was cited by 69% of respondents, making it easier to contact a live person was cited by 61%, and allowing the member to personalize the site for offers and information was cited by 53% of respondents.

"Top-of-mind features desired by credit union members do not focus on providing more product information, news or promotions," Loebbaka added. "The lesson from this study indicates that organizations can build trust, improve the member experience and enhance Web site usability by providing the security members want with the personalization and service tools they want to customize their experience."

Listed below are all the Web site features respondents said would improve their credit union online experience:

- Assure me that my information won't be sold or distributed to others: 81%

- Make sure that your site is not prone to hackers: 73%

- Make the site easier to use/navigate: 69%

- Protect me from phishing attacks: 64%

- Make it easier for me to contact a live person: 61%

- Allow me to personalize the site for offers/information: 53%.

CUNA Mutual Makes InformationWeek's Top 500

MADISON, Wis. — For the first time CUNA Mutual Group has made the top 100 cut in InformationWeek's 500 list for 2007.

The firm ranked 41 and although it was a first in the top 100, it is the sixth consecutive year CUNA Mutual has been named to the exclusive list.

CUNA Mutual was recognized for development and implementation of its Claim Express project. This specialized credit insurance claims processing solution included end-to-end automated workflow, resulting in a 75% decrease in claims process payment backlogs and an increase in automatic payments by 30%. Partnering with business units, the CUNA Mutual Information Technology team then conducted a closed-file audit to determine best practices and incorporated changes to further improve the claims process.

"It's an honor to be part of the InformationWeek 500 again this year and particularly gratifying to be in the top 50," said Tom Gosnell, CUNA Mutual chief information officer. "CUNA Mutual is placing a heavy emphasis on technology innovation to better serve credit unions and their members. Claims Express is a great example of innovation, driving business value, and business and IT working together to deliver the right product for our customers."

Among the other companies listed in the top 50 were Southwest Airlines, Microsoft, Corp., and

Google Inc.

"We'd like to extend our sincere congratulations to all InformationWeek 500 honorees," said John Siefert, InformationWeek vice president and publisher. "These companies represent today's leading technology innovators."

For nearly 20 years, InformationWeek has identified and honored the nation's most innovative users of information technology with its annual listing. The list is unique among corporate rankings because it spotlights the power of innovation in information technology, rather than simply identifying the biggest IT spenders.

Baxter CU Signs for Enterprise Architecture Program

VERNON HILLS, Ill. — Baxter Credit Union says it will be using the MEGA Modeling Suite from MEGA International for enterprise architecture initiatives.

The $1.3 billion CU runs a Symitar Episys core platform, according to the NCUA Web site.

MEGA International, a specialist in business process analysis and enterprise architecture, is based in Sharon, Mass., and says it has more than 45,000 software licenses in more than 40 countries and delivers more than 20,000 consulting days a year.

CU Technologists Offer Mixed Reviews on MFA

AUSTIN, Texas — Nine months after regulators required multi-factor authentication (MFA) for online banking, a survey of credit union IT managers shows mixed results.

The Credit Union Information Security Professionals Association says 59% of its more than 100 respondents say MFA has helped, but primarily in the area of member and staff awareness. Only 10% felt it had a significant impact on security itself.

The CUISPA also says that in many cases, implementing MFA solutions affected staff across the organization, "due in large part to the dramatic increases in support calls reported by most respondents."

The organization says, "Respondents reported having to educate all member-facing employees on the solutions as well as the reasons for the solutions. As a result many have experienced a broader acceptance of security

measures, internally."

Technical issues, such as integration with multiple applications and anti-malware programs identifying legitimate session cookies as malicious, were cited as other results of MFA deployment.

Four respondents said they have seen a decline in online banking usage because of MFA, and one credit union IT security professional told the organization that even with MFA in place, members can still get duped.

"Even after having MFA in place for close to nine months we still had members fall for a phishing scam even though the fake Web site didn't present the MFA information," the respondent says. "There is no way to tell if not having it would have meant more members falling for such scams, but having it didn't stop it either."

Desco FCU Goes with COCC for Core Processing

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — Desco Federal Credit Union is replacing its in-house core processing system with an outsourced solution provided by COCC in Avon, Conn.

The $196 million CU had built its own in-house system, part of the spirit of self-reliance that also saw its employees build its own branches when the CU expanded into neighboring communities over the years, says Lee Powell, its president and CEO.

Powell's father was the manager and one of three employees of the credit union in 1979, Lee Powell says.

"Dad's philosophy was: pay the highest savings rates, collect the lowest loan rates, and keep costs down," Powell says. "That philosophy kept us self-reliant for many years. When we started to expand into other communities, our employees built the branches. We developed our own computer system, too, which worked quite well until the service and regulatory demands got to be too great."

Danette Tackett, Desco's vice president of data processing, says the staff deals annually with regulatory changes only to find more changes the following year.

"It became a real issue for our technical staff. Our choice was to hire more technicians or outsource to a company that had already developed the solutions we needed," she says.

PARDA FCU, TEG FCU Sign With Postilion, CUBC

ATLANTA and MIRAMAR, Fla. — Postilion, a division of S1 Corporation and CU Business Capital, LLC have signed on PARDA Federal Credit Union and TEG Federal Credit Union.

Both credit unions are leveraging the marketing relationship established earlier this year between CU Business Capital and Postilion to deploy online member business services, according to CUBC. Postilion and CU Business Capital together provide business services to help credit unions expand membership and asset growth through several solutions.

"As a credit union we know that providing services to our business members is a vital piece of our growth and profitability strategy," said Ron Flaherty, CFO, TEG FCU.

Pierre Naude, general manager, Postilion Americas, said, "Our partnership with CU Business Capital is helping a number of credit unions seize the opportunity to deliver more robust business services and truly tap into this market."